Orthorexia is a common eating disorder which is characterized by a fixation or desire to eat ‘ONLY’ healthy food or avoiding an entire food group (1). Now, some may wonder what is the problem with eating healthy food? Actually, the problem goes above eating only healthy food to jeopardizing personal relationships and other dimensions of life.
It is also important to distinguish between healthy eating and orthorexia. People who usually have a healthy eating habit will not be obsessed over food and meal preparation during their entire day, whereas people living with orthorexia will and will also isolated themselves as they think that others do not have a healthy eating habit.
Another important fact about orthorexia is that by limiting certain food groups, you can have a higher risk of suffering from nutritional deficiencies which in turn, can have a negative impact on your overall health. In fact, you do not have to eliminate certain food groups for weight loss or a better lifestyle. However, it is still recommended to choose an overall nutritious food over food with less better quality, although you can still sometimes enjoy your favorite ‘sweets’ or ‘cheat meal’ by not feeling guilty or ashamed afterwards.
If you feel that your eating habits to ONLY eat healthy food occupy your entire thoughts and environment, contact your SNC’s Registered Dietitian to help you develop appropriate coping mechanisms against Orthorexia for a better lifestyle. Again, you are not alone! -SNC-
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